The 2010 ECHO Awards are entered, categorized, judged and presented by Primary Business Categories. After you have selected the primary business category (See Awards Categories Page), additionally please:
Alternative Media: Non-traditional non-digital media channels including package inserts, card packs, billboards, transit advertising, take ones, door hangers, kiosks, point-of-sale materials and all other forms of media not covered by other categories. Submit actual samples. If actual samples cannot be submitted due to size or complexity, please send one or more photographs (8 1/2" x 11").
Catalog: Promotional pieces that include specific product descriptions of multiple items, designed to generate retail traffic or non-store orders. Includes printed and electronic formats. Submit an actual sample of printed catalog (including order form). For online catalog, upload digital elements to accompany online entry form.
Direct Mail: All direct mail, either flat or dimensional, delivered to home or office by conventional postal services, courier or messenger. Submit one actual sample. If actual dimensional piece is not available, you may send one or more color photographs (8 1/2" x 11"). However, you must send an actual copy of the letter. Do not mount samples. Mock-ups and electronic graphics are not acceptable.
E-Mail and Instant Messaging: E-mail or instant messages sent to personal computers. (Mobile messaging is a separate category). All entries must be self-running applications and must be submitted for review in an appropriate digital form via URL, provided on the entry form or uploaded as an attachment to the online entry form.
For "static" executions (with no animation or video), screen shots are acceptable. To save judges' time, submit a list of any special applications needed to view the creative work, as well as any necessary user names/passwords.
Mobile Marketing: Permission-based marketing messages on phone, PDA, or other mobile devices. Marketing messages can either be push or pull, depending on the tactics and vehicles used. The tactics and vehicles include: application development, mobile site development, content distribution (downloaded or streamed), mobile search, e-mail, Web browsing, GPS location services, MMS/SMS messaging, and mobile display advertising.
Submit mobile messaging samples electronically (via URL or uploaded with online entry form) formatted for either QuickTime or Windows Media Player. A copy of the script or storyboard must also be supplied as an attachment.
Print: Space advertisements, including freestanding inserts (FSI) in publications. Submit one actual sample of tear sheet or insert. Please mark clearly whether it is a magazine or newspaper. Electronic reproductions such as pdf files are not allowed.
Search Engine Marketing: Search engine optimization (SEO) and paid pay-per-click (PPC) advertising. All entries must be self-running applications and must be submitted for review in an appropriate digital form via URL provided on entry form or uploaded as an attachment to the online entry form.
For PPC, explain how you used advanced techniques and tools to generate more traffic, improve conversion rates and/or increase return on investment. PPC can include post-click optimization (i.e., multivariate landing page testing, heat maps, web analytics, etc.). Submit screen captures or reproductions of PPC ads posted to a URL or as an attachment. Screen captures or reproductions should reflect both ads displayed on search engines as well as messaging on landing pages.
For SEO, explain how you assisted in increasing ranking and streamlining navigation of Web site(s) through site structure changes, link development, social media and other strategies. Please post relevant Web page(s) or site from the ECHO entry time window to a URL and submit associated results (screen captures of search rank, report/reproduction of link development strategy, Web analytics data, etc.) as an attachment so that we may review your use of SEO. To save judges' time, submit a list of any special applications needed to view the creative work, as well as any necessary user names/passwords. For SEO, printouts of Web site screen shots are not acceptable as source code can be important in evaluation. Also, please avoid agency identification as part of the URL.
Social Media: Participatory digital media channels that facilitate dialogue and user-generated content from among a self-selected audience. Includes publicly available channels such as Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, YouTube, Flickr, etc. Does not include blogs or proprietary digital communities that reside on a marketer's own website (which would be classified as Web Development). Submit a self-running application of social media activity as experienced by the target audience at the time of the campaign in digital format via URL or uploaded as an attachment to the online entry form. Please include any necessary user names and passwords. For "static" executions, screen shots are acceptable. Please avoid agency identification as part of the URL.
Telemarketing — Outbound or Inbound programs: Submit an MS Word or PDF file of the call guide (script) including objection-responses, telephone FAQs, etc. If available, a call recording can be electronically uploaded with the entry from. For Inbound programs, submit information on source(s) of calls.
TV/Video/Radio: Broadcast advertisements in both spot and program length format. Submit samples along with scripts for storyboards electronically (via URL or upload with online entry form). Samples should be formatted for either QuickTime or Windows Media Player. Identify PC or MAC compatibility. All entries must be submitted without agency identification. Note: If TV/Video/Radio submission is larger than 20 MB, please submit on DVD.
Web Advertising: Web ads and online paid advertising other than e-mail and search (which are separate categories). All entries must be self-running applications and must be submitted for review in an appropriate digital form via URL provided on entry form or uploaded as an attachment to the online entry form. To save judges' time, submit a list of any special applications needed to view the creative work, as well as any necessary user names/passwords. If the sites or Web pages are no longer live, a self-contained version of a site or sites with the ads should be provided. For "static" executions, screen shots are acceptable. Please avoid agency identification as part of the URL.
Web Development: Web sites, blogs, social networks and other forms of Web development. This is content that is not paid Web advertising. All entries must be self-running applications and must be submitted for review in an appropriate digital form via URL provided on entry form or uploaded as an attachment to the online entry form. To save judges' time, submit a list of any special applications needed to view the creative work, as well as any necessary user names/passwords. If the sites or Web pages are no longer live, a self-contained version of the site or pages should be provided. For "static" executions, screen shots are acceptable. Please avoid agency identification as part of the URL.
NOTE: Videotapes, audiocassettes, and CDs are not accepted! DVDs are accepted for broadcast advertisements larger than 20 MB.